Removed.

Probed.

Chapter 3: Probed.

Everything turned black for a few moments, but my mind was reeling. Suddenly, I was running across the earth, leaves and twigs acting as traction for my paws. A rainbow of colors swirled around me and the area was somehow more defined than usual.

The aroma of living, breathing prey caused my mouth to salivate. Strange sounds pooled around me, but my ears automatically honed in on the faint scurrying of something small and the distant crunch of leaves emanating from my packmates' paws.

A sharp bark came from behind me, a signal. Time to kill. I quickly turned and followed my nose to my packmate, and eventually the smell of the manbeasts, their artificial, cloying scent filling my nostrils and consuming all my senses.

The brightness of the heatbringer caused my eyes to burn and a low growl escaped my jowls in annoyance. The manbeasts always possessed this hearbringer that could cause much pain; I learned this the hard way.

Next to the heatbringer was the shell that contained the manbeasts, their heavy breathing was the only noise that came from inside. I looked at my packmates, 6 sets of golden eyes met mine expectantly.

Go. We each bounded towards the shell and tore at the flimsy exterior. Screams filled the night, soon to be cut off. I focused my attention on the shebeast. She had attempted to run clumsily on her two legs. I pounced on her back, thrusting my jaws around her middle, the delicious taste of her blood and flesh filling my mouth.

"No! Help!", the high-pitched voice drilled through my head and I was wrenched out of the forest.

I was now in a dim alleyway, and my eyes were focused hazily on a different scene. A boy, about sixteen, was struggling against a dark figure, the assailant's face hidden by the darkness. The figure shoved the thin boy's body against the side of a large metal trashcan, his head hitting the front with a dull thunk. A flash of silver emerged from the figure, and the boy emitted a sharp cry of pain. The boy crumpled lifeless to the ground.

" No! Help! John!" A high-pitched voice screamed out loudly. My voice. I was seized from behind, and before I could react a sharp sting began from my neck and radiated outward. Before I blacked out the figure- the murderer- emerged from the shadows, her piercing gray eyes meeting mine as her lips curled into a smirk.

Suddenly I was no longer looking at the woman, but was peering down on the scene from above. I was once again returned to the blackness.

I soon felt the heaviness of my limbs, but lacked the strength to move an inch or open eyes. Instead, I was greeted first by the frigid voice of the woman and of the doctor.

"Congratulations, it seems your dose has worked again", the woman said.

" Yes", he sounded pleased. "Surprisingly she survived this one, but I still need to find a way to control it. The mind hasn't gained full control quite yet..." His voice drifted off as if the owner were deep in thought.

"Yes. She is fighting it". A moment of silence ensued her statement. " Well, find  a way to control soon before this body has been emptied like the others. Until next time, doctor". Footsteps echoed away and the sound was soon cut off by the closing of the door.

"It's amazing you survived not once, but twice. You have no idea how many have become empty in front of me", he paused. "I have a feeling you will be unlike the others before. You have a certain spirit about you. If I can find a way for complete control I think you could be the one to take Him down", his voice drifted off once again. The silence was interrupted by a gruff cough.

"Yes, uh, Gaaron, return her to her room. I have a lot to think about".

Solid arms wrapped under my legs and around my shoulders before I was thrown effortlessly over his- I assumed was Gaaron- shoulder.

I still could not move, despite my attempts to open my eyes and mouth. I needed to know more. What kind of dream was that? Who was the boy in the alley? Why did the doctor say I could take 'him' down? Who was He? Does this mean I am not the only one who has been taken?

How do people become empty?

I had a sinking feeling in my chest as I realized that I probably did not want to know the answer to my last question.